AP File Photo Gretchen Whitmer

LANSING — On Tuesday, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed two bills that will cut red tape and reduce the burden on physicians, funeral directors, and grieving families following the death of a loved one. These bipartisan bills expedite the process for certification and require a death certificate to be filed within 48 hours using a secure web-based system through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. A timely death certificate helps families with burial arrangements, estate planning, and insurance claims.

“So many of us have had to persevere after the loss of a loved one,” said Governor Whitmer. “We are committed to having Michiganders’ back and reducing burdens during these tough moments. In a time of grief, mourning, and often a host of paperwork and planning, these commonsense bills will ease stress for Michiganders when it counts. They build on our work to cut red tape and streamline processes across state government. Let’s keep working together to make a difference for Michiganders.”

House Bill 4077, sponsored by state Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo), modernizes and clarifies the medical certification of death certificates, requiring a death report and medical certification to be submitted through an online platform with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The bill also streamlines funeral directors’ ability to gain certification on a death record.

“When someone passes away, loved ones deserve the ability to honor that life with dignity and begin the difficult work of saying goodbye,” said state Rep. Julie Rogers. “As a health care provider, I know how these delays affect families during some of the most painful moments of their lives. This legislation will help ensure the state does not stand in the way of that process.”

The bill adjusts outdated stringent requirements on county medical examiners, allowing other qualified physicians to sign off on death certificates.

“This is a commonsense solution to help funeral directors and medical examiners cut through the red tape to give families peace of mind during the loss of a loved one,” said state Rep. Mike Mueller.